Man found dead in basement of Giants CB Janoris Jenkins’ house in New Jersey

June 27, 2018

A body was found Tuesday morning at the New Jersey home of Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins in what authorities are investigating as a homicide, according to the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office.

The body, identified as Roosevelt Rene, 25, a family friend of the football player, was found in the basement of his Fair Lawn home by a worker, NBC News reported. Police are developing a theory that strangulation or suffocation was the cause of death, according to the NFL Network.

Janoris Jenkins was reportedly in Florida when a dead body was discovered in the basement of his New Jersey home. (Seth Wenig / AP)

Authorities would not say if Jenkins, 29, was a suspect, but it is believed that the gridder has been in Florida for the last few weeks after attending the team’s minicamp that ended June 14.

On Tuesday evening, detectives combed through Jenkins’ garage, which was stacked with Nike shoe boxes.

A white Lexus sedan with Florida plates and a black Land Rover SUV with New Jersey plates were parked in the driveway in the sleepy suburban home.

Neighbor Patti Golick, 47, said that Jenkins lives a quiet, unassuming life when he’s in town. She’s never seen any wild parties.

“He’s a very nice family man. He plays football in the backyard. It’s all fun and games,” she said.”He’s just a nice guy. He’s a good neighbor. Very to himself.”

A 14-year-old boy, Kenny, said Jenkins has invited him to play catch with him in the yard.

“It is mind blowing that I moved here knowing there wouldn’t be crime and having been in this house before, it really makes you question,” he said.

A vehicle from the Bergen County Medical Examiners office in position for the body removal body of the victim. (Sam Costanza for New York Daily News)

On Monday night, someone claiming to be Jenkins’ brother boarded a Fort Lauderdale-bound flight from Newark Airport but got off the plane after causing delays in takeoff because “he was too scared to fly,” eyewitnesses told ESPN.

Jenkins, who finished up his college football career at North Alabama University, was the St. Louis Rams’ second-round draft pick in 2012. In 2016, the cornerback signed a $62.5 million contract with the Giants.

The hardworking baller has racked up 337 tackles, two sacks, 16 interceptions and nine touchdowns over his career.

Neighbors said he’s totally focused on the sport, but is never flashy about it.

“He just goes to practice and goes home. You wouldn’t know he’s a celebrity if you didn’t know football,” Gorlick said.